Wednesday

I FOUGHT THE LAW... the bio

Beware of various internet pages pages which present fictional "facts", and sites which rehash old theories that were red herrings from the start.

Please realize that the internet is a vast nest of misinformation which allows anyone to say anything.

******I FOUGHT THE LAW: The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller 1942-1966By Miriam Linna and Randell Fuller

In the works now is I FOUGHT THE LAW, the authorized biography of ill-fated 1960’s Texas music legend Bobby Fuller. Fuller biographer Miriam Linna, whose lengthy 1988 Kicks magazine biography sought to unravel persistent misinformation that had plagued the music history of the Bobby Fuller Four, has teamed up with Bobby’s brother Randy to write the definitive Bobby Fuller bio. Randy opens up for the first time to tell of growing up with Bobby-- from their idyllic childhood days in Texas, New Mexico, and Utah, to their teen-age years in the burgeoning El Paso music scene, to the Hollywood helter skelter that would claim Bobby’s life at the age of twenty-three. His death remains a mystery, with much conjecture spawned by media zealots.

Bobby Fuller was mad about all aspects of music—writing, performing, recording, marketing. He first appeared on record in 1958, at the age of fifteen. The experience fueled his ambitions; while he was still in his teens, he started his own band with his brother Randy, built a home studio, and started his own record company. By the time he was 21, he had his own teen club in El Paso, with his band, the Fanatics as the house band. The club closed in ’64, and the decision was made to make a go with the band in Los Angeles. They were soon recording for the Mustang label as the Bobby Fuller Four. Enormously popular locally, the group was to land two singles in the Billboard charts- Let Her Dance in 1965, and the iconic I Fought The Law in 1966.

I FOUGHT THE LAW will uncover the many factors that lead to Bobby’s shocking death on July 18, 1966, detailing and dispelling the myths that have surrounded that event.

In an effort to leave no stone unturned, the authors ask anyone with additional information regarding the final American tour of the Bobby Fuller Four, business and professional dealings with Bobby, or with information or documents of any sort, to contact the authors at their editorial email number below.

From a Texas music perspective, the authors would also like to hear from artists and musicians who worked for and with Bobby during the El Paso days, who may not yet been interviewed. Confidentiality is a given.

Miriam Linna has written extensively about Bobby Fuller, particularly for several collections of his recordings which appear on New York’s Norton Records label. She is co-founder, with her husband Billy Miller, of Kicks magazine and Norton Records. Miriam collects and catalogs true crime magazines, books and pulps, and edits Bad Seed, a compendium of teen-age crime in pop culture, 1949-1959. She has written about music and crime since 1975. Her articles have appeared in several publications including Crime Beat, the Guardian, Spin, Seventeen, and most recently, Loops Journal.

Randy Fuller is Bobby Fuller’s brother and band mate. Only two years apart in age, they were often mistaken for twins as young children. As bass player for the Bobby Fuller Four, and the El Paso Fanatics before that, Randy and Bobby were inseparable. The gruesome death of his brother sent Randy into a tailspin from which it would take him years to recover. He has rarely given interviews, and only now opens up to reveal the true story of the short life and strange death of Bobby Fuller.

The Bobby Fuller Archive is the world's largest collection of recordings, photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera related to Bobby Fuller.

The BFA will launch in tandem with the upcoming authorized Bobby Fuller biography, I FOUGHT THE LAW, providing a central location for reprints, licensed commercial use, and original ephemera for fans, collectors and historians.

12 comments:

The Bobby Fuller Four was really one of the best bands of the 1960s. It is a shame they are relegated to that of a "one hit wonder". It's simply not true. The Bobby Fuller Four left a wealth of great rock n roll behind and it deserves some attention. It also goes without saying that Bobby left a true cold case mystery behind, too. Maybe we'll know the truth one of these days. It is good to see a bio in the works with the hand of Tommy Fuller involved. It would also be great to see a stage musical developed and based on the Bobby Fuller Four. The band's music along with their curious story would have no problem finding an audience.

I was 13 years old when "I Fought the Law" was a hit on the radio. I loved that tune! Since the 1980s I've added every Bobby Fuller 4 reissue and compilation to my collection. They all confirm my solid belief that they were one of the best rock 'n' roll bands ever. I'll read every word in your book!